It’s up to Kovalev to help the youngsters

In his Standing Pat column, Hickey writes that Alex Kovalev has told his young linemates, Mikhail Grabovski and Andrei Kostitsyn, not to worry so much about getting him the puck.

“I’ve told them to play their games and not to worry about me,” Kovalev said, adding that he is heeding general manager Bob Gainey’s advice and helping the youngsters.

Said head coach Guy Carbonneau: “I think he’ll be the first to tell you that he didn’t have a good season last year. From what I see, we have the potential to have three offensive lines capable of scoring and we’re looking to Alex to be a leader.”